Controversial Black Preacher Defends Reputation, Says 'Different Does Not Mean Deficient'

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"Somebody please tell the Oakland County executive that the sentence starting with the words 'despite violence' is a direct quote from the NAACP. Otherwise, he will attribute the quote to me and continue to say that Fm one of the most divisive people he's ever heard speak, when he's never heard me speak," [Jeremiah Wright] said. "I know some say that just my appearance in Detroit will be polarizing. But I'm not here for political reasons. I'm not a politician. Many in the corporate-owned media have made it seem that Fm running for the Oval Office. I've been running for Jesus for a long, long time and I'm not tired yet."

"I'm sorry your political analysts are saying I'm polarizing and my sermons are divisive. I'm not here to address an analyst's opinion," Wright said calling out [Sam Riddle] and others who decried his NAACP invitation to speak. "I stand here as one representative of the African American church tradition, believing that a change is going to come."

Defending the NAACP invitation to Wright, Anthony said, "It's bigger than all three of them," referring to presidential candidates [Barack Obama], Hillary Clinton and John McCain. "This is about the African American church. This is about our church. This is about our people. This is about our right to speak truth to power. It is not a White thing, nor is it a Black thing. It is the right thing we're doing here tonight."

The former pastor of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama whose sermon regarding the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks has been a firecracker for Obama's campaign, addressed the Detroit Branch NAACP 53rd annual Fight For Freedom Fund Dinner. In his 40-minute speech, Wright took the audience on a historical excursion separating fact from fiction and explaining in detail that the learning differences of African American children from European Americans does not mean they have a learning disability.

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Controversial Black Preacher Defends Reputation, Says 'Different Does Not Mean Deficient'

The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, pastor emeritus of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, told 12,000 people in Detroit on April 27 that there is a need for racial tolerance in America.

The former pastor of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama whose sermo...

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